GB1414225A - Continuous press for pressing glue-coated consolidatable press charges - Google Patents

Abstract

1414225 Continuous press TRUS JOIST CORP 1 March 1973 9926/73 Heading B5N A continuous press for pressing glue-coated, consolidatable press charges comprises a pair of elongate, vertically spaced bed plates, upper and lower endless press belts having respectively, a lower and an upper span arranged in between and in alignment with the bed plates, upper and lower endless anti-friction belts having, respectively, a lower and an upper span interposed between a respective bed plate and a respective press belt, the spans of the press belts between the bed plates being spaced by a distance sufficient to exert a predetermined pressure on a consolidatable press charge passing in pressure contact therebetween, and drive means connected to the press beds for advancing the said lower and upper spans in a feed direction at a rate predetermined to effect a desired consolidation of the press charge during setting of the glue, the vertical spacing of the bed plates being such as to provide three zones, namely a tapered in-feed zone, wherein during operation the press charge is gradually consolidated immediately downstream from the in-feed zone an over-consolidated zone wherein the spacing between the bed plates is such that the presscharge, during operation is resiliently consolidated to a level more than that desired in the final product, and, immediately downstream from the over-consolidation zone a final zone wherein the spacing between the bed plates is greater than the spacing within the over-consolidation zone and in which there is applied to the press charge, during operation, sufficient pressure to maintain the charge at the desired degree of consolidation during setting of the glue for the remainder of its travel through the press. In the embodiment described, the press consists of an upper section 10A, a lower section 10B and is divided into and un-feed module 12, one or more intermediate modules 14 and an out-feed module 16, an upper bed plate 58 and a lower bed plate being suitably supported by the press frame, the upper surface 170 of lower bed plate 64 having a ramp 172 formed at its forward end and a similar opposed surface being formed at the front portion of upper bed plate 58. As shown in Fig. 2, the lower surface 174 of the upper bed plate 58 terminates in a ramp 176; the upper surface of the lower bed plate 64 terminating in an opposing similar surface. The press belts each comprise a pair of endless flexible support members, e.g. chains 86 transversely mounting a plurality of press platens 116 each detachably secured to a platen support block 111, the platens each being of laminar construction. The anti-friction press belts each comprise a plurality of grooved hard steel rollers 164 mounted on chains 142, means being provided to tension the chains. In the preferred embodiment described, endless steel caul belts 220 are interposed between the press charge and the pressing belts to minimize possible damage to the surfaces of the press charge and heaters 286 are secured at strategic locations along the length of the press, clamps 23 each consisting of upper and lower transverse bars 316, 218 being provided to control the thickness of the product. Means in the form of guide rollers adjustable in position relative to the press belts may be provided to assist in the longitudinal guiding of the press belts through the press. The press may be used in the manufacture of plywood or wood composition board.